1 of world's most destructive insects found at DC airports

BALTIMORE — The U.S. Customs and Border Patrol says it has intercepted one of the world’s most destructive pests of stored grains, cereals and seeds at two Washington-area airports this year.

An agency release Thursday said agriculture specialists at Washington Dulles International Airport and Baltimore Washington International Thurgood Marshall Airport recently encountered the Khapra beetle, the only insect it takes regulatory action against. The statement describes the insect as having the potential to economically cripple exporters.

Dulles specialists found four live adults, 12 live larvae, and several dead larvae and cast skins Jan. 24 in rice a Washington resident brought from Saudi Arabia. BWI specialists found two live adults, one dead immature larva, and several cast skins Feb. 23 in cow peas a New York City resident brought from Nigeria.

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